Might as well kick this off.

I have assumed Molyneux, Williams, Hawkes & Donaldson will not be available.

Killip
Kioso, Kerr, Raynes, Crichlow-Noble
Mafuta
Kennedy, Noble
Toure, Muir, Kabamba.

Subs: James, Holohan, Featherstone, Bale (or Richardson), Cunningham.

I will also assume they are injured and go with:

4-4-2 Diamond

Killip
Kioso Kerr Raynes Crichlow-Noble
Mafuta
Kennedy Noble
Holohan
Toure Kabamba

10 out of your 11 but Kabamba as the central striker and James on the right instead of Muir.

I wouldn't argue with either of the above. That's the beauty of our squad this year, bags of options. I put Muir in as a target man to hold the ball up/ play it off to the runners.

Hignett did say something along the lines of Williams will only need 1 or 2 games to be fit such is his style. Obviously the club are keeping the line up from the Sunderland game a big secret. Maybe he played and the club want to surprise Sutton with his inclusion? Maybe he simply didnt play at all. God knows.

Anyway going by his comments so far i think Hignett will go with......

------------------------Killip
Richardson---Raynes-----Kerr------RCN
----------------------Mafuta
-------------Kennedy------Noble--------
---------Toure------------------James
---------------------Kabamba

Cant see him not playing Noble, Kennedy or Richardson after their performances so far but I also cant see Hignett playing without Featherstone especially after his performance against Macclesfield but to include all 4 central midfielders would mean it would be more defensive than a usual Hignett line up and all the indications are he wants to attack.

As for what id pick, I have absolutely no idea tbh, back 4 and Gk is pretty much picking itself but seems harsh to leave Holohan on the bench as well as any of the 4 midfielders mentioned above and Bale has looked good too.

I think Muir has done well so far too, thought it was interesting against Billingham he and Toure were constantly switching position and Muir looked comfortable moving to the left of the front 3, he is a very tidy player imo and linked things up nicely. Not sure he is a striker as such really but with pace and movement around him i reckon he will have a good season.

Anyway will be 5 or 6 disappointed players not making the bench, why on earth cant the National League let us have 7 subs like in the league?

Would agree that this is the best starting line up with lots of options to change it if necessary.
------------------------Killip
Richardson---Raynes-----Kerr------RCN
----------------------Mafuta
-------------Kennedy------Noble--------
---------Toure------------------James
---------------------Kabamba

Pickles for eyes, Featherstone will be first name on team sheet.

Best player on pitch on Saturday.

"Williams came off the bench to score in an impressive cameo against Sheffield United under-23s 11 days ago but hasn’t featured since."



from the Mail today, tREE.

Cheers, suppose could be a case that they dont know if he played or not mind.

Featherstone certainly plays better under Hignett and Hignett does appear to be a fan of his.

From what I've seen of Mafuta and Kennedy, they'd be first choice for me so it would be between Noble and Featherstone for the possible 3rd midfield slot. Can't see many underperforming midfielders this season with competition so high for places.

Certainly interesting options in midfield. As the season goes on do not be surprised if both Richardson and Cunningham start in what becomes our best XI.

I think CH will go 433

Killip
Kiosso Raynes Kerr and RCN
Noble Featherstone Kennedy
James Kambamba Toure

3 problems
both central defenders are right footed and prefer playing on the right
Midfield lacks pace but should be able to retain possession
lacks natural width

Goals conceded against Sunderland and Sheff UTD questions how safe are we at the back.

I think Richardson will probably start on Saturday. I don't get the impression that Kerr has had a brilliant pre-season but Hignett will probably go with him and Raynes in the central defence on grounds of experience if nothing else.

That said, he's made the point more than once that anyone who puts in a few sub-par performances in league games will find himself out of the side.

Killip
Richardson Raynes Kerr and RCN
Noble Mafuta Kennedy
James Kambamba Toure

Richardson on his pre-season form over Kioso and Mafuta for his height and strength.

Bench....Featherstone Holohon Anderson Kioso Muir.

They have been known to be wrong occasionally!!!

Nope.

Poor lad he's only been here a short time and he's named after a Nurses Union.

-------------Killip
Kioso ---- Raynes ---- Kerr ---- RCN
---------- Mafuta
------- Kennedy----- Noble
---Toure--------------James
-----------ed-t-ball


Ten of those decisions were very difficult.

Killip

Kioso, Raynes, Kerr, Noble

Kennedy, Noble, Gus

Williams

Kabamba, Toure


Subs: Cunningham, Bale, James, Muir, Molyneux

Good shout - I haven’t bothered with the meaningless warm up games but Hignett appears to have done a decent job in introducing several quality midfielders and attacking players to the squad. Questions regarding the robustness of his defence are valid until such time that it is proven to be the real deal in NL combat. The opening game against Sutton will undoubtedly represent a decent test for young Killip and those selected to play in front of him.

Personally rather than build up such a substantial squad before a ball is even kicked in anger I would have preferred to see Higgy hold back some of Raj’s budget to see how the rebuilt squad fared during a ridiculously hectic opening month and tweak any shortfalls with loan deals if necessary. Maybe this actually is his cunning plan.

Finally does anyone know why the fcuk the NL insist on enforcing its member clubs to play 8 games during August beggars belief especially as many players across the league won’t be 100% match fit until well into September.

Good shout - I haven’t bothered with the meaningless warm up games but Hignett appears to have done a decent job in introducing several quality midfielders and attacking players to the squad. Questions regarding the robustness of his defence are valid until such time that it is proven to be the real deal in NL combat. The opening game against Sutton will undoubtedly represent a decent test for young Killip and those selected to play in front of him.

Personally rather than build up such a substantial squad before a ball is even kicked in anger I would have preferred to see Higgy hold back some of Raj’s budget to see how the rebuilt squad fared during a ridiculously hectic opening month and tweak any shortfalls with loan deals if necessary. Maybe this actually is his cunning plan.

Finally does anyone know why the fcuk the NL insist on enforcing its member clubs to play 8 games during August beggars belief especially as many players across the league won’t be 100% match fit until well into September.[/quote]

Because the same people who write the fixtures are the same people who deem twats like coxhall fit to pillage football clubs!

Spot on Monkey - and then all but ignore what's going on at Bury - until it is too late - when they then do little more than bayonet the dead and dying.

Spot on Monkey - and then all but ignore what's going on at Bury - until it is too late - when they then do little more than bayonet the dead and dying.

The EFL makes me so angry that I stutter! Apologies for the double post.

It’s an odd thing to play a decent chunk of the season so early but theirs fairly obvious logic behind it at this level. You have two cups that disrupt fixture schedules later in the season then you have to also factor in losing games to the weather. Even with this early season rush it’s not uncommon for teams to have a fixture backlog at the end so it probably is necessary but it really puts a lot of importance on a good start, something we have struggled with in our first two seasons at this level. It’s crucial we hit the ground running.

[/quote]

With a quarter of the games coming in the first couple of months (is it?) I like the idea of having a big enough squad in place ready. Its got to be better than trying to find a replacement player from elsewhere between a Saturday and a Tuesday when one gets injured.

I believe i read somewhere that 5 or 6 of the teams that finished top 8 last season were up there in the first month.

On paper everything is in place for us to have a strong start.

win a couple of early games will help no end to give the side momentum and not having to play catch up later in the season. helps to keep the fans on side when there,s a lean spell that all clubs go through. its not before time we have a good start and a good season.

The Pools boss has confirmed that Ryan Donaldson, Josh Hawkes and Luke Molyneux are all likely to miss out on the action after picking up injuries during pre-season.

Williams sat out training today too

Pools won 4, drew 3 lost 1 of their first 8 NL games last season. That was actually a pretty good start - we were 5th after 12 games.

What we have to avoid is hardly winning a game in October and November!

We didn’t win any of our first four including a game at Braintree that we should have won about 7-0 but drew 1-1 from memory but then won the next four. I remember us desperately hanging on for first win at home to Maidenhead when blind panic set in late on! Our first two especially this season look very winnable to me.

Thankfully we've signed the primary factor behind that.

One of the worst away games of my time following Pools that. Such a stark reminder of the level we're at now and such unbearable predictability with the way the game went.

agree. we seemed to be doing fine after beating 9 man halifax but then the wheels came off

Got to remember we got about 23 penalties in first 15 games or summit.

We did get quite a few but most were well earned, by James especially. Him and Toure should win a fair few this season as well - just hope one of Noble or Hawkes is on the pitch too take them!

Killip
Kioso, Kerr, Raynes, Crichlow-Noble
Noble, Featherstone, Mafuta,
James,
Kabamba, Toure

Hoolahan and Feather on bench, bit of a shocker that as they both been prolific pre season.

Poor this. Mafuta so deep he alongside centre backs, Kennedy goes alongside Kabamba so theres no fucker in midfield. Shame as we signed 8 of the fuckers.

I presume Kitchen will be on at half time for this left back who has had a shocker.

Hignett currently writing on the back of a queens headed sticky thing on how to pick the complete wrong midfield!
What has he seen in that left back? , makes Kitching look a decent option!

He wouldn’t need all the back of a stamp to give all his thoughts of his midfield formation